He's beyond excited to be a hawk & I think AEL gave a report/listing of players that were easy to coach & I think he was one of them. If that is true, then staying another year shouldn't be bad to where he'll go free agent. I project him as middle/bottom 6.
- I Am The Breadman

I agree, but that excitement may wane if he wants to start getting paid after this year and the Hawks say no. Isn't that what happened to Will Butcher? He wanted to sign, and Col wanted him to go back to school for another year?

TBF, they did say top 9, but point taken.
- tvetter

thanks T...i missed that...there are guys over the last years that are now long gone that we heard the same thing

If I had to choose 2 of Forsling, Dahlstrom, and Koekkoek, right now I would go with the Swedes.
- AEL_Fox

I need to see more of Koekkoek.

Dahlstrom is fine, still think he could be an effective cheap 3rd pair guy on a SC contender. Certainly he’s as good or better than what the Hawks have had on their 3 Cup teams.

Forsling, I’m just not sure. He may get lost in the shuffle when all the recent draftees start coming up. And not necessarily his fault, but he & Gus were on for both the even strength goals against last night.

thanks T...i missed that...there are guys over the last years that are now long gone that we heard the same thing
- bogiedoc

Yep

hawks have played 52 games and have 47 points: on pace for 74 pts.
they are "only" 5 points out but need to pass 6 teams: good luck
given the level of mediocracy in the WC this year (hooray for bettmans parity); 90 pts gets you a wild card spot.

the hawks have 30 games left to get 43 pts thats over a pt a game clip: for example a 19-5-5 record = 43 pts and the other 6 teams have to be .500 or less.

thus this team give you any evidence that it go on that kind of run?
- bogiedoc

Who knows, it’s still a 1 goal league, although it’s now maybe 4-3 instead of 3-2.

That horrible Sabre team that we saw last night went on a 10-0 run early in the season. And the Hawks play 9 current non-playoff teams in February. So we should know for sure by the end of the month.

I need to see more of Koekkoek.

Dahlstrom is fine, still think he could be an effective cheap 3rd pair guy on a SC contender. Certainly he’s as good or better than what the Hawks have had on their 3 Cup teams.

Forsling, I’m just not sure. He may get lost in the shuffle when all the recent draftees start coming up. And not necessarily his fault, but he & Gus were on for both the even strength goals against last night.
- scottak

Agree with your sentiments on all 3. What you shared about Forsling is spot on. I think he may turn out to be a reliable two-way defender but perhaps eventually expendable as the D prospects make the team and start hitting potential.

Yet, with the D prospects being a few years away still, having a few of Murphy, Gustafsson, Forsling, Dahlstrom, and Koekkoek coming in to their own now buys the Hawks time to let them roll for a couple more seasons while the prospects develop at appropriate rates.

Who knows, it’s still a 1 goal league, although it’s now maybe 4-3 instead of 3-2.

That horrible Sabre team that we saw last night went on a 10-0 run early in the season. And the Hawks play 9 current non-playoff teams in February. So we should know for sure by the end of the month.
- scottak

I wish that was the schedule for March, and not Feb. I worry that they win a lot of these games, and then Stan turns into a buyer at the TDL.

I wish that was the schedule for March, and not Feb. I worry that they win a lot of these games, and then Stan turns into a buyer at the TDL.
- tvetter

Depends on how to you define buyer. Could he make a move that brings in a cost-controlled younger RFA in exchange for taking on a bad contract? Then by all mean, be a buyer. I don't believe they are under any illusions that this a playoff team this year.

hawks have played 52 games and have 47 points: on pace for 74 pts.
they are "only" 5 points out but need to pass 6 teams: good luck
given the level of mediocracy in the WC this year (hooray for bettmans parity); 90 pts gets you a wild card spot.

the hawks have 30 games left to get 43 pts thats over a pt a game clip: for example a 19-5-5 record = 43 pts and the other 6 teams have to be .500 or less.

thus this team give you any evidence that it go on that kind of run?
- bogiedoc

Your projection shows they need 72% of the remaining available points to get to 90.

And passing 6 teams - chances are pretty good that one of the six will go on a pretty good round to get to 95 or so.

Depends on how to you define buyer. Could he make a move that brings in a cost-controlled younger RFA in exchange for taking on a bad contract? Then by all mean, be a buyer. I don't believe they are under any illusions that this a playoff team this year.
- Elbows15

I'd be ok with that. I've been calling on Stan taking on a bad contract since the beginning of the year. My worry is that he ends up sending out a top prospect or high pick to make a playoff run.

The problem is defense, and ironically the Hawks D will be among the leagues best in a few years given the talent Bowman has drafted over the last couple of drafts, however that doesn't help the Hawks now - with that said I can see Bowman perusing a quality defensemen this summer - this UFA class for defensemen is pretty impressive. At the same time a defenseman that will take a short-term deal. The Hawks have quantity on the back-end, what they lack is quality - the Hawks need a legitimate top 4 that can help until our studs are ready to eat NHL minutes.

I know many fans believe Bowman is "rebuilding" or that the Hawks need to "rebuild" however I don't think the Hawks are in full-blown rebuilding mode, the Hawks are more in a transition phase rather than rebuilding mode. Bowman will have roughly $20,000,000 to spend this summer and IMO if the Hawks can acquire/sign a legitimate top 4 defenseman and bring Panarin back - this is a playoff team... And yes, the Hawks don't look so hot now - but that's because they don't have the chemistry they had in previous seasons.. The Hawks roster is significantly different than what it was 3 years ago and it's preposterous to think that anyone in the system could step in and fill the shoes left by Hossa, Sharp or Hjalmarsson etc.. That wasn't going to happen and last summer Bowman was still limited when it came to cap flexibility so he was unable to sign the right players that could appropriately fill those roles ... This summer will be the first time in Bowman's GM career in which he actually has cap space to improve the team..... So if the Hawks can land a legitimate top 4 defenseman and get Panarin back (which I think is and has been part of the plan all along) they will be much better.... But like I said - I believe this team sucks because they have no chemistry on D ... The Hawks have shown they can score, however they cant keep the puck out of the net .. Of course that's a big problem to solve during the season however it's not as problematic during the offseason because a UFA signing or 2 can resolve that problem.

Like I said earlier in this post - this defensive UFA class is deep with quality and experienced defenseman .. Karlsson, Edler, Gardiner, Stralman, Kronwall, Bouwmeester, Myers etc... Yes I'm aware that many of these guys are past their prime, however they're experienced and that's what the Hawks need.... The reason why our D is so damn sloppy is because these kids have little professional experience, and I will take experiece over youthfulness any day of the week.. Those veteran defenseman know how to play in this league - these kids don't and European defense is a different ball game from NHL defense, not to mention they're not familiar with the system...

With any luck the Hawks will land Patrick Kane's clone - Jack Hughes at the draft, bring Panarin back and sign Stralman to a 3-year deal..

I think a line of Panarin-Toews-Kane would be lights out..

I'd be ok with that. I've been calling on Stan taking on a bad contract since the beginning of the year. My worry is that he ends up sending out a top prospect or high pick to make a playoff run.
- tvetter

Nah. He can do the math.

I agree, but that excitement may wane if he wants to start getting paid after this year and the Hawks say no. Isn't that what happened to Will Butcher? He wanted to sign, and Col wanted him to go back to school for another year?
- tvetter

Butcher is just one weird instance, but I hear you. Butcher struck me as an "odd bird" but really wanted to play. Col was in a weird place and getting themselves together as a highly competitive team. I don't know the situation, it was just really weird to me. It was like Col and NJ traded prospects. Bowman is trying his damndest to get young guys here, and is always in conversations with them and keeping tabs. I don't think he wants the Hayes situation for him. EB will be a hawk.

Not sure if it’s accurate, but the NHL.com preview has Forsling paired with Murphy & Dahlstrom with Gustafsson. And Koekkoek in the press box again.

I saw the same thing. Made couple of real nice defensive plays and assisted that first goal. I thought Dahlstrom had solid game too. Was more active with the puck and moves pritty well for a big guy. I like him.
- MjulQvist

Dahlstrom is really growing on me.

For all of these smaller, offensive minded defencemen coming up soon for the Hawks, he's a welcomed sight.

That goal was the reason why it was a good idea to send him down. Let him get some confidence and learn the pro game. He has a lot of years ahead of him and he is only 19.
- breadbag

To me it's the progression of speed, going straight to the NHL is a great experience, but let him fine tune his game with out let passes, positioning defensively, bodying forwards. The best part is he can play in the NHL, the ball is in his court to get in physical shape for an 82 game season.

2 games!
- GPHawksfan

I would like to see a little more of him playing 2 games is not enough to make any judgement on his game. Also, this team can find out what they have in him as a player. If I'm not mistaken he was drafted in the top ten so he must have some talent.

I would like to see a little more of him playing 2 games is not enough to make any judgement on his game. Also, this team can find out what they have in him as a player. If I'm not mistaken he was drafted in the top ten so he must have some talent.
- BGKarras

2 games? one shift is the limit to make a determination around here, bub.

I wish that was the schedule for March, and not Feb. I worry that they win a lot of these games, and then Stan turns into a buyer at the TDL.
- tvetter

Based on what I've seen this year, not a chance, just when they start looking good this team takes a big dump. They will not be able to keep out scoring teams. 2nd in the league at giving up shots against, good defense can be played almost every game but scoring 5, 6, 7 goals a game just unsustainable

2 games? one shift is the limit to make a determination around here, bub.
- Elbows15

I didn't like Schmaltz the moment he was drafted.......I said he better be traded for Strome during his contract year.

I didn't like Schmaltz the moment he was drafted.......I said he better be traded for Strome during his contract year.
- I Am The Breadman

Thatta boy.

2 games? one shift is the limit to make a determination around here, bub.
- Elbows15

Make it sound like he's only played 2 NHL games? Oh that's right he was so good with the Oilers

I would be loathe to give up Forsling just yet. We have seen him play very well. He just needs to take the next step and become more consistent. To me, it seems he tends to lose confidence. Not unusual for young players. Have to hope he matures past that and realize he has the tools to be very solid NHL- D-man. Cause he does.
- Elbows15

My concern with Forsling is how he fares against the forecheck. I've seen him struggle in these situations a bit more than I would like. Does this improve as he bulks up more, or will this always be part of the deal with him?

I didn't like Schmaltz the moment he was drafted.......I said he better be traded for Strome during his contract year.
- I Am The Breadman

That's much earlier than me. Im glad he was traded to.

Make it sound like he's only played 2 NHL games? Oh that's right he was so good with the Oilers
- BetweenTheDots

I don't think they are talking about Caggiula. Koekkoek probably.